Natsu's POV

It was dark in the office, and all that filled my ears were the keys on my keyboard, constantly being hit every now and then due to the target of work I needed to achieve before the next morning.

Everyone else went home whilst I stayed back to get this paperwork done, they all told me to take a break, to take it easy, or to slow down or I might pop a vein.

Wow, to see that they actually care after trying to rip my head off earlier this morning.

I rubbed my eyes.

Just then, I felt something cold against my cheek and slowly turned towards the source.

"Still working after hours, Mr Dragneel?" Ms Heartfilia asked as she held out a cold bottle of water to me.

"Oh, hey Ms Heartfilia," I looked up at her and politely took the bottle from her hand, "Yeah, I have a target to reach,"

"Seriously? You should cut yourself some slack, I know you like to power through everything like a superhero, but you need to at least give your brain a rest, right?" She told me in a concerned tone.

I looked down at my hands that were currently on the keyboard and shook my head from side to side.

"No can do, Ms Heartfilia. I've got targets to reach and I've GOT people to beat! Besides, it's none of your business," I replied.

"I believe it is my business, if you truly want to catch up, you have to take care of yourself first, don't let anyone kill you for their gain," She said joyfully.

I listened to her ramble on about eating healthily and getting enough sleep for a better rise out of the next day.

I sighed.

"Just go home, Ms Heartfilia,"

She pouted, "Don't be like that, Mr Dragneel, I'm just trying to help. I'm a Personal trainer-"

"A cook and a yoga instructor, yeah, I get it," I interrupted and finished off for her.

"Well, well, well, someone knows their stuff. If I were a betting girl, I would say you watch and listen to me a lot," She chuckled.

"Not a hard task when all you and Loke do is bicker all the time, like rats," I rolled my eyes.

She laughed joyfully as she rested her hand on my shoulder and moved closer beside me.

"Bicker? Do you think I would do something that a 15-year-old does in a professional place like Fairy Tail?" Ms Heartfilia raised a brow at me, her smile not departing from her face.

I looked back up at her and gently tapped her hand, "Yup, you do it all the time,"

I drank more from my water bottle and sighed.

But she isn't wrong. I can't get better if I don't take some time to rest, I guess I'll pack up for today.

I began to pack my things into my backpack, once I was done, I threw it on in one swing, picked up my phone and placed it in my back pocket.

I turned to the screen and shut down my computer. I'll just go through this tomorrow.

A yawn followed soon after doing that. I rubbed my eyes after and murmured, "Man, I really am tired,"

"That's what happens when you dive headfirst into work like you did earlier this morning, a bottle of cold water helps to bring your mind back to reality," She said as we walked together to the elevator, "Also, you shouldn't spend your after hours working,"

We got to the doors of the elevator.

I pressed the button, and the doors opened wide and welcomed us into the clean and comforting space. I gestured for her to step in first and followed behind her, I pressed the 'L' button and the doors closed as a small bell sound rang through our ears.

As the elevator began to go down, I spoke up to avoid any awkward air.

"So, you're here late too? Any reason?"

"I was in the archives room, sorting out old books and new ones that Mr Fullbuster specifically asked me to organise. I simply lost track of time," She told me with an embarrassed expression on her face.

I stared at her with a raised brow, "Gray, huh? He trusted you to do that…?"

"What does that mean?" She pouted, folding her arms and glaring up at me.

I faced forward and quickly answered, "It's just a question,"

The elevator ride felt slow, but I was in no rush… other than the rush to fall into my bed quickly.

"Hey, thanks for telling me how to save my work on the cloud. I'm not really good with all this new tech stuff," I said as I felt the need to study her in close quarters since this is the most we've spoken to each other, barring her disciples during work hours.

"It's okay, Mr Dragneel. I'm here to work and support my colleagues. We are all after the same goal after all," She said as she did the bras d'honneur gesture.

I simply nodded.

"I understand what you are doing, Mr Dragneel, but please take it easy. No amount of dedication will make you a god, your mind may be strong, but your body is limited." She said with a worried tone.

I just stared at her for a moment, then faced the mirror behind us so that I could fix my collar.

Ms Heartfilia is a lot of things.

She is kind.

Sweet.

Thoughtful.

Charismatic.

Respectful.

And Cheerful.

That's what I've noted from watching her every now and then, but she's also kind of annoying.

Like seriously,

I appreciate the gesture, but why does she care so much anyway?

I barely know her, and she barely knows me.

Nobody but myself knows my limits, if she isn't my family or my friend then she should just keep her opinions to herself.

Just wanting her to shut up, I let out a little sigh, and responded to her pleas, "I'll take it easy, don't worry about me."

"I'm not sure if I can really believe that. People like you always have a lot to prove," She said gently with a rather sympathetic look on her face.

At least she gets it.

Just then the elevator bell rang again, and the doors opened wide.

"What do you want to prove that you go out of your way to kill yourself for it?" She asked as the doors opened.

My mind wandered, remembering the promise between myself and my best friend from over a decade ago. It's still fresh in my mind, and continues to bug me considering the gap between him and I when it comes to positions in society.

"You don't have to worry about it, really,"

We both stepped out into the lobby and then soon after, we were on the top steps that led to the entrance of the building.

She continued, "I can't just sit in the office and watch a colleague kill himself slowly over some work, please tell me so I can at least give you some advice!"

I remained silent as I could feel my eyebrows twitching. I seriously have no time for this, I'm knackered as hell, so I need to get back home quickly. I raised my hand and looked back at her, "I'm off. Get back home safely, Ms Heartfilia,"

I quickly galloped down the steps and went about my way. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I grumbled here and there about what Ms Heartfilia said earlier.

Take a break? Take it easy? She must think I'm one of the weaklings in the office, and why does she look at me like that? Like I'm a pet or something?

I don't need someone being concerned for me like they're my mother or something.

I'm not weak.

I can handle this amount of pressure.

Now, to head off to the supermarket. I need to restock Happy's food before he attacks me during my next visit.

I reached into my back pocket and took out my phone, my eyes were somewhat heavy, and I struggled to look at the time properly.

"Uhh... how is it… 6:04...?"

"It's 8:54, silly," The sound of her voice rang through my ears.

I raised a brow as I immediately looked behind me and could see her blurry figure walking up to me.

"And you are following me because…" I asked with a raised brow

"Not at all, this is my way home," She smiled up at me, then tilted her head to the side a bit and had an expression of concern written on her face, "Also not to pry, but you don't look so… awake, do you want me to call an Uber?"

"An Uber? Nah, save your money, I can walk." I smiled sheepishly and walked ahead of her.

Just one foot at a time, Dragneel.

One foot at a time.

What was supposed to be a simple foot-by-foot sequence turned into the struggling first steps of a child.

Almost immediately, my body crumbled and I went smack-dab into the pavement, slightly groaning from the pain as my legs decided to just sleep on me.

I heard Ms Heartfilia chuckle, followed by, "I told you,"

I can't believe this is happening right now.

I stumbled once again but was caught by Ms Heartfilia who had a sort of worried expression on her face.

"This might be the consequences of going home late, working late and not giving your body the rest it needs, Mr Dragneel. I've called an Uber, so you won't need to worry about taking the bus and enduring this pain." She said as she helped me up to my feet.

It was a 5-minute wait till the Uber pulled up by the curb and we both got in together at the back. She held onto my arm the entire ride.

I tried to keep my eyes open, but it got more difficult as I began drifting into this deep, dark slumber, but I managed to stay awake till the Uber came to a full stop.

It was more like dipping in and out of the darkness.

Is this what it feels like to cling to life? Wait… am I dying?!

I felt her arms unlock from mine as the weight from the car had departed and the door shut behind her, she opened it on the other side where I was partially slumped over and helped me out.

The trip to wherever we were going was long, extremely long. The fact I was awake still was astonishing, but I had to make sure she wasn't taking me to a hotel or something.

I can just hear it now: 'Mr Dragneel forced himself on Ms Heartfilia', and here comes the pitchforks, and the fire, and the cross to hang my beautiful body on.

We finally got to a door, and I could feel her rustling through my backpack.

Wait...

Is this my home?!

I don't remember telling her where I lived though…

I heard the locks open, and she began hauling me inside with all her strength.

"And. There. We. GO!" I heard her say as she dropped me on a soft, cosy thing that I know all too well.

I groaned in annoyance yet with slight relief, "You didn't have to… do this…."

I heard her giggle, "But I did, I couldn't just watch you keel over in the streets now, could I?"

Grumbling softly, "This is just... a bit of fatigue... nothing to fret over,"

She hummed as she began taking off her beige jacket.

All I wanted to do was kick her out…

But my judgement is clouded by this intense fatigue that I'm feeling right now.

"Okay, I'll be out of your hair after I make sure you're all tucked in. I'm going to make some soup for you to eat so-." I heard her voice get quieter as she rambled on.

Man, I am glad to be home...

3rd Person POV

Moments later, Lucy giggled at the sight of the pinkette being sprawled out on his bed like a 4-year-old, knocked out from the fatigue he was going through.

She properly tucked him in and looked down at him once more before smiling intensely once again.

She knelt beside his bed, staring at him with a bright smile before her expression changed to a neutral yet interested stare as she poked him in the cheek.

"What kind of man are you, Mr Dragneel?" She said gently with a more analytical expression on her face.

"You work so hard without any kind of break, and you are so cold towards everyone, even me." Lucy spoke calmly.

The lights above them buzzed as the clocks in the home ticked slowly, each tick getting quieter yet louder at the same time.

"You know, considering that we both started at this new place around the same time, we should be on a first-name basis by now, you should be letting me call you Natsu. I hate calling you Mr Dragneel, it just feels like we aren't close enough,"

She trailed her finger along the edges of his jaw.

"I've got the attention of every man in that office but not you, why? What makes you so different? So alluring? So interesting? I want to know who you are, Natsu Dragneel."

She giggled lightly, "It sounds so natural saying it like that. Natshuuu Dragneeel,"

"Natsu Dragneel, Natsu Dragneel. It just rolls off the tongue so nicely," Lucy commented. She stopped her giggling and blushed at the sight of him simply sleeping, "If I said your name, how would you react? Would you tell me to say it again? Maybe moan it out loud for you,"

Lucy put one knee on the edge of his bed and loomed over him. She took both sides of his face and admired his handsomeness, the sharpness of his jaw, his cute little nose and his bright complexion. From that to his endearing personality, it made him perfect in her eyes, and without hesitation, she brought her face towards his neck and kissed his flesh before nibbling on it.

She let go of his neck and couldn't wait for the bright blue-pink hickey to appear tomorrow, just marking him with that made her want to know him much better. She turned her head over her shoulder, but looked back at Natsu with a warm smile, "I want to say your name and I want you to acknowledge it. I want to say it in all kinds of different ways, and I want you to love it, Natsu. We just have a lot of waiting to do, we just have to know each other better. The natural way."

She slithered off his bed and put on her beige jacket, she got a hold of her handbag and made her way to the front door of his home.

She looked back at Natsu then smiled cunningly before putting out the lights, "Goodnight, Mr Dragneel."

To Be Continued